At least 38 people have been killed after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island early Saturday, according to the country’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB.
The earthquake struck shortly before 05:00 local time on Saturday, with Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency reporting a depth of around 15 kilometres. The relatively shallow depth increased the potential for severe damage across the affected area.
The earthquake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including a strong 6.1-magnitude tremor. Buildings were damaged across parts of East Nusa Tenggara province, while emergency teams began search and rescue operations.
In the port city of Maumere, video showed large sections of concrete breaking away from a terminal building and falling onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. Some people were thrown into the sea after a gangway connecting the terminal to a ship collapsed.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said some of those killed were trapped under collapsing rubble while they were sleeping.
Residents described scenes of panic as the powerful shaking woke people from their sleep. Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura in Sikka, said he immediately rushed to check on his child after being awakened by the shaking.
A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the earthquake, prompting residents to flee towards higher ground. Thousands of people moved inland, with many travelling by motorbike, while others gathered along roads and in evacuation centres. BNPB said around 2,000 people had evacuated or relocated on their own.
The warning was lifted about three hours after the earthquake after authorities found no significant rise in sea levels. Residents had initially become alarmed after noticing that the sea had receded and remained unusually low for some time.
BNPB reported fatalities across several provinces, including three deaths in Sikka, six in Manggarai and five in East Manggarai. At least two people were seriously injured and another 11 sustained minor injuries, with authorities warning that the casualty figures could rise as rescue operations continued.
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it lies along the meeting point of three major tectonic plates. The country regularly experiences powerful seismic activity as a result of its position along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
